293. Governments have the primary responsibility for implementing
the Platform for Action. Commitment at the highest political level
is essential to its implementation, and Governments should take
a leading role in coordinating, monitoring and assessing progress
in the advancement of women. [To this end, Governments have been
invited to state their own specific national commitments for priority
action within the context of the Platform for Action. These specific
commitments will result in practical outcomes for women and girls
and will ensure that the Fourth World Conference on Women is a
conference of commitments. The specific commitments announced
by individual Governments at the Conference appear in an annex
to the report of the Conference.]

294. National mechanisms and institutions for the advancement
of women should participate in public policy formulation and encourage
the implementation of the Platform for Action through various
bodies and institutions, including the private sector, and, where
necessary, should act as a catalyst in developing new programmes
by the year 2000 in areas that are not covered by existing institutions.

295. The active support and participation of a broad and diverse
range of other institutional actors should be encouraged, including
legislative bodies, academic and research institutions, professional
associations, trade unions, cooperatives, local community groups,
non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations
[and feminist movements], the media, religious groups, youth organizations
and cultural groups, as well as financial and non-profit organizations.

296. In order for the Platform for Action to be implemented, it
will be necessary for Governments to establish or improve the
effectiveness of national machineries for the advancement of women
at the highest political level, appropriate intra- and inter-ministerial
procedures and staffing, and other institutions with the mandate
and capacity to broaden women's participation and integrate gender
analysis into policies and programmes. The first step in this
process for all institutions should be to review their objectives,
programmes and operational procedures in terms of the actions
called for in the Platform. A key activity should be to promote
public awareness and support for the goals of the Platform for
Action, inter alia, through the mass media and public education.

297. As soon as possible, preferably by the end of 1995, Governments,
in consultation with relevant institutions and non-governmental
organizations, should begin to develop implementation strategies
for the Platform and, preferably by the end of 1996, should have
developed their strategies or plans of action. This planning process
should draw upon persons at the highest level of authority in
Government and relevant actors in civil society. These implementation
strategies should be comprehensive, have time-bound targets and
benchmarks for monitoring, and include proposals for allocating
or reallocating resources for implementation. Where necessary,
the support of the international community could be enlisted,
including resources.

298. Non-governmental organizations should be encouraged to contribute
to the design and implementation of these strategies or national
plans of action. They should also be encouraged to develop their
own programmes to complement government efforts. Women's organizations
[and feminist movements] in collaboration with other non-governmental
organizations should be encouraged to organize networks, as necessary,
to advocate for and support the implementation of the Platform
for Action by Governments and regional and international bodies.

299. Governments should [commit themselves to] [establish the
goal of] gender balance, inter alia, through the creation of special
mechanisms, in all [government committees,] boards and other relevant
official bodies, as well as in all international bodies, institutions
and organizations, notably by presenting and promoting more women
candidates.